OMAHA, Neb. September 25, 2021 – The far more open pitch of Morrison Stadium did not quite provide a home turf advantage, as a high-strung affair ended in Union Omaha’s first home loss of the season despite a raucous feel both on and off the pitch.
The Owls stumbled out of the gates with a penalty kick given up merely five minutes in, and the resulting affair was tense, tempestuous, and utterly frustrating for Omaha as FC Tucson whittled the minutes away after an early penalty kick.
“It was an incredible atmosphere, absolutely incredible,” said Head Coach Jay Mims, after thanking all the supporters who came to Morrison Stadium to contribute to that. While the goal never came for Union Omaha, he heaped praise on their effort and fight to get back into the match. It was such that he prognosticated a 3-1 win if a late penalty kick for his side had equalized.
A phenomenal low cross to Maxi Schenfeld for the opening goal was wiped out because of a shove on Creighton alumnus Noah Franke, incensing both clubs just five minutes into the match. In a case of “ball don’t lie,” Charlie Dennis sent Rashid Nuhu the wrong way for a cool fourth goal in two matches.
The physicality ramped up from there, with bodies flying and tempers on a simmer especially in the few minutes directly following that Tucson goal. Conor Doyle earned himself a yellow card to test the ref’s bounds, and it wouldn’t be the last in this match.
Omaha created chances in the wake of that opener, though, really showing a fervor to get back on level terms. They very well could have had it, too, but a pair of offside calls on Greg Hurst in quick succession thwarted those moves before they could prove fatal to Tucson’s defense. Damià Viader was doing what he does to provide for the front two, whose interplay was good but not great, and the first half went by without a second breakthrough for either club.
The second half picked up where the first left off, and only saw tensions rise from there between the two upper-table teams. The match was littered with frustration fouls and cynicism from both sides. That’s not quite a surprise when Tucson’s goalkeeper was warned for time wasting in the 35th minute, but it was very much a consistent theme.
Coach Mims credited Tucson for carrying out their plan. “They fought and fought and fought, and they blocked… I don’t know how many shots. They defended for their lives, like you should when you’re up 1-0 on the road.”
Omaha, however, wasn’t quite threatening Tucson’s defense as they were prior. The tension in Morrison Stadium built as Tucson did everything they could to hold the lead, and even as the fouls and bookings piled up it was nothing doing for the majority of the second half.
A lifeline was delivered, though, after the 80th minute. Evan Conway, slid through by a slick Conor Doyle pass, worked Kaelon Fox and drew a stone-cold penalty out of him. Damià Viader stepped up to take it, confident in producing yet another moment of magic for Union Omaha. Yet, his take rattled the right post, brushed over the Tucson keeper’s foot, and stayed clear of the netting.
From there, Tucson battened down the hatches until victory was secured, even despite eight minutes of stoppage time.
“Our guys played our hearts out. Only thing missing was the goal” said Mims, with a deep sigh. The team as a whole, and indeed the supporters departing Morrison Stadium, will be catching their breath after such a fretful affair.
The good news is that Chattanooga Red Wolves, after going down to ten men, capitulated at the death to New England Revolution II. So, despite a backwards affair that showed the league’s best offense locking things down for an entire match, the status quo has been held atop the table, with Union Omaha two points back with two games in hand. FC Tucson moves up to third in the table, meanwhile, extending their unbeaten streak to seven matches.
Union Omaha has an interesting slate ahead of them to finish off the season. They’ll hit the road for a visit to South Georgia Tormenta FC, but will then return to Werner Park for five straight home matches before one last away game to end the regular season. Omaha hasn’t faced Tormenta FC since the opening matchday of the season, where they won 2-0 at home in Werner Park. This match will take place on Friday, October 1st at 8:00 PM CDT. They’ll continue to mirror the start of the season by facing Fort Lauderdale CF next, on Wednesday, October 6th at 7:00 PM CDT in Omaha.
———
Union Omaha vs FC Tucson
Morrison Stadium (Omaha, NE)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Union Omaha 0 0 0
FC Tucson 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
OMA:
TUC: Charlie Dennis 7’
Misconduct Summary:
OMA: Connor Doyle (Yellow Card) 11‘, Amir Alihodžić (Yellow Card) 32’
TUC: Luca Mastrantonio (Yellow Card) 51’, Shak Adams (Yellow Card) 56’, Giovanni Calixtro (Yellow Card) 76’, Mohamed Kone (Yellow Card) 80’, Maxi Schenfeld (Yellow Card) 87’
Statistical Summary:
Shots (on goal): OMA: 18 (1); TUC: 8 (6)
Saves: OMA: Rashid Nuhu – 5; TUC: Wallis Lapsley – 1
Possession: OMA 58.7% – TUC 41.3%
Fouls: OMA 15; TUC 16
Corner Kicks: OMA 6; TUC 1
Attendance: 2,217
Lineups
OMA: GK, Nuhu; D, Viader (Firmino 90’); D, Osumanu; D, Malone; D, Sousa; M, Scearce; M, Alihodžić (Molina 77’); M, Doyle; M, Boyce (Otieno 77’); F, Conway; F, Hurst
TUC: GK, Lapsley; D, Schenfeld (Pena 89’); D, Fox; D, Mastrantonio; D, Franke; M, Kone; M, Delgado (Barnathan 80); M, Dennis (Bedoya 90+1’); F, Corfe (Perez 79’); F, Calixtro; F, Adams (Rodriguez 79’)
All game stats are unofficial.
OMAHA, Neb. September 25, 2021 – The far more open pitch of Morrison Stadium did not quite provide a home turf advantage, as a high-strung affair ended in Union Omaha’s first home loss of the season despite a raucous feel both on and off the pitch.
The Owls stumbled out of the gates with a penalty kick given up merely five minutes in, and the resulting affair was tense, tempestuous, and utterly frustrating for Omaha as FC Tucson whittled the minutes away after an early penalty kick.
“It was an incredible atmosphere, absolutely incredible,” said Head Coach Jay Mims, after thanking all the supporters who came to Morrison Stadium to contribute to that. While the goal never came for Union Omaha, he heaped praise on their effort and fight to get back into the match. It was such that he prognosticated a 3-1 win if a late penalty kick for his side had equalized.
A phenomenal low cross to Maxi Schenfeld for the opening goal was wiped out because of a shove on Creighton alumnus Noah Franke, incensing both clubs just five minutes into the match. In a case of “ball don’t lie,” Charlie Dennis sent Rashid Nuhu the wrong way for a cool fourth goal in two matches.
The physicality ramped up from there, with bodies flying and tempers on a simmer especially in the few minutes directly following that Tucson goal. Conor Doyle earned himself a yellow card to test the ref’s bounds, and it wouldn’t be the last in this match.
Omaha created chances in the wake of that opener, though, really showing a fervor to get back on level terms. They very well could have had it, too, but a pair of offside calls on Greg Hurst in quick succession thwarted those moves before they could prove fatal to Tucson’s defense. Damià Viader was doing what he does to provide for the front two, whose interplay was good but not great, and the first half went by without a second breakthrough for either club.
The second half picked up where the first left off, and only saw tensions rise from there between the two upper-table teams. The match was littered with frustration fouls and cynicism from both sides. That’s not quite a surprise when Tucson’s goalkeeper was warned for time wasting in the 35th minute, but it was very much a consistent theme.
Coach Mims credited Tucson for carrying out their plan. “They fought and fought and fought, and they blocked… I don’t know how many shots. They defended for their lives, like you should when you’re up 1-0 on the road.”
Omaha, however, wasn’t quite threatening Tucson’s defense as they were prior. The tension in Morrison Stadium built as Tucson did everything they could to hold the lead, and even as the fouls and bookings piled up it was nothing doing for the majority of the second half.
A lifeline was delivered, though, after the 80th minute. Evan Conway, slid through by a slick Conor Doyle pass, worked Kaelon Fox and drew a stone-cold penalty out of him. Damià Viader stepped up to take it, confident in producing yet another moment of magic for Union Omaha. Yet, his take rattled the right post, brushed over the Tucson keeper’s foot, and stayed clear of the netting.
From there, Tucson battened down the hatches until victory was secured, even despite eight minutes of stoppage time.
“Our guys played our hearts out. Only thing missing was the goal” said Mims, with a deep sigh. The team as a whole, and indeed the supporters departing Morrison Stadium, will be catching their breath after such a fretful affair.
The good news is that Chattanooga Red Wolves, after going down to ten men, capitulated at the death to New England Revolution II. So, despite a backwards affair that showed the league’s best offense locking things down for an entire match, the status quo has been held atop the table, with Union Omaha two points back with two games in hand. FC Tucson moves up to third in the table, meanwhile, extending their unbeaten streak to seven matches.
Union Omaha has an interesting slate ahead of them to finish off the season. They’ll hit the road for a visit to South Georgia Tormenta FC, but will then return to Werner Park for five straight home matches before one last away game to end the regular season. Omaha hasn’t faced Tormenta FC since the opening matchday of the season, where they won 2-0 at home in Werner Park. This match will take place on Friday, October 1st at 8:00 PM CDT. They’ll continue to mirror the start of the season by facing Fort Lauderdale CF next, on Wednesday, October 6th at 7:00 PM CDT in Omaha.
———
Union Omaha vs FC Tucson
Morrison Stadium (Omaha, NE)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Union Omaha 0 0 0
FC Tucson 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
OMA:
TUC: Charlie Dennis 7’
Misconduct Summary:
OMA: Connor Doyle (Yellow Card) 11‘, Amir AlihodžiÄ (Yellow Card) 32’
TUC: Luca Mastrantonio (Yellow Card) 51’, Shak Adams (Yellow Card) 56’, Giovanni Calixtro (Yellow Card) 76’, Mohamed Kone (Yellow Card) 80’, Maxi Schenfeld (Yellow Card) 87’
Statistical Summary:
Shots (on goal): OMA: 18 (1); TUC: 8 (6)
Saves: OMA: Rashid Nuhu – 5; TUC: Wallis Lapsley – 1
Possession: OMA 58.7% – TUC 41.3%
Fouls: OMA 15; TUC 16
Corner Kicks: OMA 6; TUC 1
Attendance: 2,217
Lineups
OMA: GK, Nuhu; D, Viader (Firmino 90’); D, Osumanu; D, Malone; D, Sousa; M, Scearce; M, AlihodžiÄ (Molina 77’); M, Doyle; M, Boyce (Otieno 77’); F, Conway; F, Hurst
TUC: GK, Lapsley; D, Schenfeld (Pena 89’); D, Fox; D, Mastrantonio; D, Franke; M, Kone; M, Delgado (Barnathan 80); M, Dennis (Bedoya 90+1’); F, Corfe (Perez 79’); F, Calixtro; F, Adams (Rodriguez 79’)
All game stats are unofficial.
